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The 49-year-old lawyer from New Glasgow, N.S., was repeatedly named Canada's sexiest male MP by The Hill Times and described by The New York Times as the "closest thing to eye candy on the diplomatic circuit."

Now married with a child — and another on the way — MacKay was also once Canada's most eligible bachelor.

MacKay dated the autoparts heiress and Conservative up-and-comer until a high-profile breakup that came when Stronach surprisingly crossed the floor to the Liberals in 2005. That led to an odd, impromptu press conference on MacKay's father's farm. With his dog at his heels, MacKay confessed he didn't see it coming and that his "heart's a little banged up."

The breakup seemed amicable enough until 2006 when Stronach demanded an apology from her old flame, claiming MacKay called her a dog in the House of Commons.

MacKay denied the allegations.

Condoleezza Rice

A New York Times gossip column fuelled rumours that MacKay and former U.S. secretary of state Condoleezza Rice had a tryst during her 2006 visit to Nova Scotia. Rice wrote in her autobiography that she was amused by the speculation of sparks flying between them.

"Peter, who is single, hosted me for 'family' dinner at a lodge on the Atlantic coast. It was just what I needed -- relaxed and low key. That night I slept very well with the cool ocean breeze coming through my open window. The next morning, Peter and I walked to a local coffee shop for breakfast."

When MacKay told reporters how well Rice had slept with her window open, Rice wrote, "I immediately heard a soft snicker among the crowd, and I tried to laugh his comment off at the beginning of my speech. But the scene had been set."

Rice said she told MacKay, who was a little embarrassed by the ordeal: "A girl can't be seen with you without some scandal."

Jana Juginovic

Mackay and the director of programming at CTV News Channel Jana Juginovic were quite serious for a while. The pair's engagement was announced in November 2009 before it was called off the following June.

Nazanin Afshin-Jam

MacKay tied the knot with Iranian-born human-rights activist and former Miss World Canada Nazanin Afshin-Jam at a private ceremony in Mexico in January 2012.

The couple have a two-year-old son, Kian Alexander MacKay, and are expecting a second in the fall.